Chapter 17
Chapter seventeen
Gavin
He heard Johnny say Pilot’s name into his phone as he walked off. That would not do. At all.
He picked up his phone and pulled up his travel app to book a flight to Colorado, then turned to his partner.
“Jack, hey. I have a family emergency. I have to go. Craige!” He clapped his new racer on the shoulder.
“Listen, you’ve got this. You’re in good hands with Reagan. Listen to him and ride your ass off.”
“You got it, bossman.” Craige pumped an arm up in the air. His confidence tripled during his crash-course training sessions. Craige didn’t need him to hold his hand. If he needed anything, he’d go to his coach. He shook hands with Reagan, who patted his shoulder.
Jack turned to him. His expression was softer than Gavin had ever seen it. “Your work’s done. It’s up to this guy now. Go. Take care of business.” He bobbed his head in the direction Johnny had gone. “I’ll be around. Seriously, go.”
Gavin was determined to help Johnny. They’d made a commitment of sorts, and in his mind, that meant being there when Johnny needed him.
He hoped he’d booked the same flight Johnny would be on.
He tried to catch up with him, but when he reached the Apex pit, both Johnny and Pilot had already left.
Their manager, Angel, stayed behind. She told him she didn’t know anything beyond their emergency.
Gavin already knew that much, but he respected Angel, and she’d tell him more if she could.
Not that it mattered. He would still be there for his boyfriend.
He didn’t stop to think about what that word meant to him. He didn’t have to—his heart resonated with it.
He caught a cab to his hotel room to pack his shit and asked the cab to wait and take him to the airport.
Once on the plane, he booked a rental car for when he arrived in Denver.
He wanted to buy a car to keep there since he’d been spending so much time with Johnny already, and he planned for that to continue.
He simply hadn’t had the time. He needed to make the time.
Gavin constantly watched for Johnny, hoping he’d get onto the plane, but the doors closed, and the flight attendant went through the procedures without him.
Johnny probably got on a different airline.
Gavin had a first-class seat, as usual, but he checked the rest of the plane, in case Johnny had already boarded.
Gavin’s dejection surprised even him. They’d been growing closer, but at that moment, Gavin truly understood what Johnny had come to mean to him.
He needed more than someone to fuck around with.
Johnny deserved whatever comfort Gavin could give him, and Gavin would support him in anything, but especially this.
Johnny needed to know he could count on Gavin.
His own feelings didn’t matter. Johnny was headed home, so Gavin would follow him.
He sent a quick text. I’m here for you always, Johnny. No matter what.
He shut his phone down as the plane took off, so he couldn’t see if Johnny returned his text. If Johnny was already in the air, he might not see the message for a while anyway. Again. Didn’t matter. Gavin wasn’t a man who talked about shit. He did what needed to be done. A man of action.